HLS 12RS-456 ORIGINAL
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE BILL NO. 148
BY REPRESENTATIVE JIM MORRIS (BY REQUEST)
MUNICIPAL/LAWRASON ACT: Precludes a person who owes a past due debt to the
municipality from running for mayor or alderman in a Lawrason Act municipality
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 33:384 and 385(A), relative to qualifications of a candidate for2
mayor or alderman in a municipality governed by a mayor-board of alderman form3
of government; to prohibit a person who owes a debt that is past due to a4
municipality from qualifying as a candidate for mayor or alderman of the5
municipality; and to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 33:384 and 385(A) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as8
follows:9
§384. Qualifications of mayor10
A. The mayor shall be an elector of the municipality who at the time of11
qualification as a candidate for the office of mayor shall have been domiciled and12
actually resided for at least the immediately preceding year in the municipality.13
B. No person who owes a debt that is past due to the municipality shall14
qualify as a candidate for mayor of the municipality.15
§385. Qualifications of alderman; vacancies; office holding; contracting16
A.(1) The qualifications of the aldermen shall be the same as are prescribed17
for the mayor, and in addition, those elected from wards must be residents of their18
respective wards.19 HLS 12RS-456 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 148
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
(2) No person who owes a debt that is past due to the municipality shall1
qualify as a candidate for alderman of the municipality.2
* * *3
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Jim Morris HB No. 148
Abstract: Prohibits a person who owes a debt that is past due to a Lawrason Act (mayor-
board of aldermen) municipality from qualifying as a candidate for mayor or
alderman of the municipality.
Present law provides qualifications for mayor and alderman in a municipality governed by
the mayor-board of alderman form of government. Provides that the mayor shall be an
elector of the municipality who, at the time of qualification as a candidate, has been
domiciled and actually resided for at least the immediately preceding year in the
municipality. Provides that qualifications for alderman are the same as those for mayor and
that an alderman elected from a ward must be a resident of the ward. Proposed law retains
present law and additionally provides that no person who owes a debt that is past due to a
municipality shall qualify as a candidate for mayor or alderman of the municipality.
(Amends R.S. 33:384 and 385(A))